Punch Covid in the Face with Shaun Buckley
Donation protected
Next week I turn 40. Apparently, that’s some kind of milestone, or so I’ve heard!
One of the things I’ve noticed about milestones is they make you wonder why they’re there.
The most obvious part is to show you how far you’ve come, and thus provide an ideal opportunity for reflection.
With that in mind, I’ve taken this week off (nicely coinciding with Thanksgiving here in the US).
Here are some of my reflections so far:
Buy yourself a pair of good boots, and when the sole wears out, get them re-soled. If something else wears out first, they probably weren’t good in the first place .
Invest in better pots/pans. You’ll enjoy cooking more.
Be generous. It has its own reward.
Have boundaries. Nobody else will protect what’s important to you.
Don’t give up on your dreams.
Learn how to fail successfully and you won’t be bound by fear.
No matter the cost, do whatever it takes to like being you.
You probably care too much what other people think of you.
Passion is more infectious than corona. Find something you’re passionate about and do more of it. The world needs more passionate people.
I’m proud of where I’ve come from, how far I’ve come. We all have different stories, different obstacles to overcome. I’m more resilient and emotionally healthy than I’ve ever been. I have more courage and more grit than I’ve ever had. I’ve lost 20kgs/~44lbs this year. I’m pursuing things that bring me joy and I’m good at. I have more hope than is reasonable.
I love my life and am living my best one. I hope this post encourages you to live your best life, too.
Some have asked what would bless me for my birthday. If you want to find out more about that, please keep reading.
2020 has been a strange one for all of us. With the fallout of the big ‘rona pandemic, some plans I had for completing my woodworking shop build were significantly altered. Some of you will know that it’s been a long-time dream of mine to become a furniture artist/designer/maker. So, over the past couple of years, I’ve been building a woodworking space in my garage, outfitting with tools, machinery, etc.
This year I had funds set aside to finish this, but due to some knock-on effects of global lockdown, those funds were “reassigned.”
So I want to invite you to join with me in punching covid in the face. This is not a “woe-is-me” sob story looking for a sympathetic handout. This is an invitation to symbolise in a real way your resistance to the idea a pandemic can wipe out someone’s dreams, an opportunity to say, “Not this time, Mr. Rona!”
If you want a piece of that, I invite you to join me in co-writing my story by contributing to my tool fund. There are a few major pieces of machinery and equipment I need to purchase, such as a bandsaw and sanding system. Specifically, I would love to put to work in my shop a Laguna LT16 Bandsaw along with a Mirka sanding system. There are numerous other smaller items and supplies of course, but those are the major things.
When I'm creating, I feel alive. To imagine something that doesn't exist and then with my own two hands craft it into exist... nothing beats it. It would mean the world to have your support in pursuit of this dream, and make me feel so celebrated for my 40th birthday.
One of the things I’ve noticed about milestones is they make you wonder why they’re there.
The most obvious part is to show you how far you’ve come, and thus provide an ideal opportunity for reflection.
With that in mind, I’ve taken this week off (nicely coinciding with Thanksgiving here in the US).
Here are some of my reflections so far:
Buy yourself a pair of good boots, and when the sole wears out, get them re-soled. If something else wears out first, they probably weren’t good in the first place .
Invest in better pots/pans. You’ll enjoy cooking more.
Be generous. It has its own reward.
Have boundaries. Nobody else will protect what’s important to you.
Don’t give up on your dreams.
Learn how to fail successfully and you won’t be bound by fear.
No matter the cost, do whatever it takes to like being you.
You probably care too much what other people think of you.
Passion is more infectious than corona. Find something you’re passionate about and do more of it. The world needs more passionate people.
I’m proud of where I’ve come from, how far I’ve come. We all have different stories, different obstacles to overcome. I’m more resilient and emotionally healthy than I’ve ever been. I have more courage and more grit than I’ve ever had. I’ve lost 20kgs/~44lbs this year. I’m pursuing things that bring me joy and I’m good at. I have more hope than is reasonable.
I love my life and am living my best one. I hope this post encourages you to live your best life, too.
Some have asked what would bless me for my birthday. If you want to find out more about that, please keep reading.
2020 has been a strange one for all of us. With the fallout of the big ‘rona pandemic, some plans I had for completing my woodworking shop build were significantly altered. Some of you will know that it’s been a long-time dream of mine to become a furniture artist/designer/maker. So, over the past couple of years, I’ve been building a woodworking space in my garage, outfitting with tools, machinery, etc.
This year I had funds set aside to finish this, but due to some knock-on effects of global lockdown, those funds were “reassigned.”
So I want to invite you to join with me in punching covid in the face. This is not a “woe-is-me” sob story looking for a sympathetic handout. This is an invitation to symbolise in a real way your resistance to the idea a pandemic can wipe out someone’s dreams, an opportunity to say, “Not this time, Mr. Rona!”
If you want a piece of that, I invite you to join me in co-writing my story by contributing to my tool fund. There are a few major pieces of machinery and equipment I need to purchase, such as a bandsaw and sanding system. Specifically, I would love to put to work in my shop a Laguna LT16 Bandsaw along with a Mirka sanding system. There are numerous other smaller items and supplies of course, but those are the major things.
When I'm creating, I feel alive. To imagine something that doesn't exist and then with my own two hands craft it into exist... nothing beats it. It would mean the world to have your support in pursuit of this dream, and make me feel so celebrated for my 40th birthday.
Organizer
Shaun Buckley
Organizer
Redding, CA
